LWVC ISSUES FOR EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
The LWVC Board strongly advised that no more three Issues for Education and Advocacy be adopted in order to focus resources more effectively. In this context, the delegates critically evaluated the recommended issues as well as the non-recommended issues brought to the convention. The result was that the delegates rejected one of the recommended issues and a non-recommended issue. The selection of the three recommended issues was based on the input of 51 local Leagues, including the LWVMP. They were as follows:
REDISTRICTING
Recommended by 30 of the 51 participating local Leagues. Currently, LWVC is part of a large coalition working to change the redistricting process. The basic principles LWVC endorses are:
- Districts of substantially equal population, geographic contiguity, and conservation of racial and linguistic minorities.
- Prohibition of incumbent protection and preferential treatment of one political party.
- Respect for boundaries of cities and counties and preservation of "communities of interest."
- A redistricting committee composed of citizens chosen by legislators and the governor with restriction on the appointment of participants with past or future political activities.
The League opposed attempts to redistrict before the 2010 census. This issue for education and advocacy was passed with nearly unanimous endorsement of the delegates.
STATE AND LOCAL FINANCE
Recommended by 14 of the 51 participating local Leagues. Local Leagues were concerned with the need for structural reform of the state budget and adequacy of funding for education and health care. The LWVC position will emphasize an education focus that includes education of members and encouragement of local Leagues to engage in community education activities and encouraging public involvement on state budget process reform. LWVC will seek volunteers to continue the series of camera-ready articles on state and local finances that are provided to local Leagues. The objectives of LWVC were perceived as vague and lacking clear procedures and outreach goals. This issue for education and advocacy was passed on a close voice vote.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Recommended by 14 of 51 participating local Leagues. The LWVC position proposed to provide a basis for education that would focus to engage in community education activities, monitoring current proposals and encouraging public environment. A mechanism for achieving these goals was focused on a proposal to appoint an ad hoc committee charged with recommending to the Board a plan for education and advocacy by November 2005.
Among other delegates speaking against this issue, noted, "The proposed education and advocacy describes no clear targets, and since there is no imminent action pending at the level of state government, it would appear unlikely that LWVC education and advocacy would move the system towards grassroots-based reform in the next two years." This issue was defeated on a close voice vote.
The non-recommended issues were as follows:
ENERGY AS AN ISSUE FOR ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
Board members strongly argued that we have a strong voice for energy in legislative action (see following article) and that including it as an issue for advocacy and education in the local Leagues would not enhance LWV effectiveness. This issue was defeated on a voice vote.
REDISTRICTING STUDY OF MULTI-MEMBER DISTRICTS
To begin in 2006. This was allowed for consideration on a close ballot vote, but was defeated on a voice vote. Delegates were not convinced that multi-member districts promised sufficient success in addressing inequities inherent in the current redistricting, and another study was not well received.
LWVC STUDY OF JUDICIAL REFORM (contingent on funding) and
UPDATE OF VOTING RIGHTS POSITION FROM 1968
Both were rejected for consideration.
HEALTH CARE AS AN ISSUE FOR ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION
Passed on a standing vote. Although health care is an issue for legislative action, the presence of the parental consent for pregnancy termination initiative on the next ballot and the presence of a sure to be controversial single-payer health insurance bill (SB840) in the Senate prompted many delegates to feel that local education and advocacy should be added to the LWVC program.
--Convention Delegate
